Sturgeon
ExploreFish
Sturgeon
Acipenseridae
Sturgeons are ancient fish with long bodies and bony plates instead of scales. They live in rivers and oceans and are known for their caviar, which is a fancy food made from their eggs.
Habitat: Freshwater, Coastal areas
Appearance
The Sturgeon is a large fish with an elongated body, uniquely covered in five rows of bony plates called scutes instead of scales. It has a distinctive flattened, shovel-like snout with four sensitive barbels beneath, used for sensing food. Its color ranges from grey to olive-brown.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderAcipenseriformesFamilyAcipenseridae
Category
FishRarity
Rare
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Instead of teeth, sturgeon use a powerful suction mouth to vacuum up tasty bits.
Many sturgeon travel huge distances between salty ocean and fresh river waters.
Sturgeon breathe with gills but can sometimes leap clear out of the water!
These fish can live over a hundred years, making them one of the longest-living fish!
Special abilities
Ability
Armored Skin
Sturgeon has five rows of bony plates (scutes) that help protect them against predators, like a natural knight's armor.
Ability
Bottom Sensor
Sturgeon can use four whisker-like barbels near its mouth to feel for hidden food on murky riverbeds and lake bottoms.
Ability
Suction Mouth
Sturgeon has a protrusible, toothless mouth that works like a vacuum, sucking up small prey with powerful suction.
Ability
Ancient Survivor
Sturgeon has maintained its unique body plan for millions of years, showing incredible adaptability to changing environments.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 100-550 cm
- Weight
- 10-1500 kg
- Lifespan
- 50-150 years
- Swim Speed
- 20 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 200 m
- Water Type
- Brackish
Diet & Feeding
Sturgeon are bottom-feeders, slurping up small creatures like insects, worms, and tiny fish from the riverbed.
Age differences: Juveniles eat more insects and larvae; adults eat larger prey like fish and mollusks.
Primary Foods
- Aquatic insects
- Small fish
- Crustaceans
- Worms
- Mollusks
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Human
Homo sapiens
Valued for their meat and eggs (caviar) by people.
eats
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
Larger pike can prey on young sturgeon in freshwater.
eats
Bloodworm
Chironomus plumosus
Sturgeon forage for these midge larvae on river bottoms.
eats
Threespine stickleback
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Small fish like sticklebacks are part of the sturgeon's diet.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Freshwater
Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Also known as
Atlantic SturgeonBeluga SturgeonSiberian SturgeonSturgeon FishWhite Sturgeon
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
When near water where sturgeons live, always stay safe and never try to touch them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Sturgeon?
100-550 cm
How much does Sturgeon weigh?
10-1500 kg
How long does Sturgeon live?
50-150 years
What does Sturgeon eat?
Sturgeon are bottom-feeders, slurping up small creatures like insects, worms, and tiny fish from the riverbed.
How fast can Sturgeon swim?
20 km/h
Where is Sturgeon usually found?
Freshwater, Coastal areas
How does Sturgeon hunt?
Foraging
How deep can Sturgeon go?
200 m
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